Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

That will happen eventually.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked about events. The event must be taking place in the centre and cannot be a football match or whatever outside. He also asked about concerts in the convention centre. The definition provided is that the convention event is a reception, dinner, banquet or stage event which is held as part of a conference. Therefore, it could conceivably be a concert. On the question of the hour after the event, the operator is satisfied with one hour. It is a reasonable period. Again, once the hour is over, the well upholstered barristers can drink in the local pubs, bringing business to the local area.

I propose to bring in the sale of alcohol Bill sooner rather than later. There have been suggestions that we should review opening hours with regard to the changes we made recently in the Oireachtas. I have received representations from various groups requesting the hours be returned to what they were and extended again. I am not prepared to change the hours. I am not aware whether representations have been made to the Deputies opposite on the issue. Despite the Armageddon suggested, the hours are reasonable. Deputy Upton raised a salient point - something I say in the presence of the Minister for Health and Children - on the issue of the availability of drink in the country and the damning statistics with regard to the level of alcohol use by the population.

That said, this is an important issue and we must deal with it. This convention centre would not be regarded as viable to compete for conventions throughout the world if it did not have the finest facilities, including intoxicating liquor facilities. That is why we are making provision in this respect.

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